September 27, 2016  Screening for Mental Health, a Wellesley nonprofit that seeks to improve mental health screening through public education, screening, and treatment resources, recently announced that Mary Kay Leonard has been named interim chief executive officer.

The board of Screening for Mental Health (SMH) said it is searching for a successor to Candice Porter, who had served as executive director, but decided to narrow her focus as vice president of outreach and partnerships at SMH.

A spokesperson said changing the top position from executive director to CEO reflected a need for someone business, financial and information technology experience

SMH founder and board chair Douglas Jacobs said, We are fortunate to have a leader of Mary Kays caliber to lead the organization through this transition. She is the perfect choice to help SMH sustain a solid foundation while we identify the best candidate to move the organization forward.

Candices knowledge and expertise for creating innovative ways for people to receive vital mental health information and education has been a large part of our success. Im delighted she is taking a more focused role on partner and program development to advance our national impact.

Leonard, who has more than 30 years of experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, most recently had her own consulting practice. Earlier, she served as president and CEO of Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, spent almost a decade with the United Way as chief operating officer and interim CEO and held senior management roles at Work Family Direction.

She started her management career in state government, leading a turnaround as commissioner of the Massachusetts Office for Children and shaping public policy for state agencies as chief counsel to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Human Services.

Porter began her tenure at SMH as youth programs manager. Her expertise in developing strategic relationships led to her promotion to director of external relations. In that role, she worked to expand the organizations national presence.

In 2013, after a transition in leadership, Porter stepped took on the role of interim executive director and then moved into the position permanently. She is a licensed independent clinical social worker and has more than a decade of experience working in public and private settings.

For the year ending Dec. 31, 2014, SMH reported $2.6 million in revenue, of which $167,000 came from contributions and grants, and $3.3 million in expenses, according to its most recently available federal tax filing.